County Council to foot the bill for increased fly-tipping in Tendring

Essex County Council will be asked to pick up the tab for any increased fly-tipping in Tendring resulting from changes to rules at recycling centres.

From the start of the month ECC refused to accept business waste at all its centres across the county.

At the same time further restrictions were brought in at Dovercourt, Kirby and Lawford recycling centres for household waste to prevent the illegal disposal of business waste.

They are no longer accepting soil, hard-core, plasterboard, bathroom ceramics, kitchen unit doors and window frames as well as no longer permitting access to trucks, vans and pick-ups.

The Clacton site in Rush Green Road will receive the materials but there is a restriction on the quantity and light commercial vehicles will be checked.

At a meeting of Tendring District Council’s Cabinet on Friday there were fears the new rules would lead to increased fly-tipping in Tendring.

They also raised concern that it will lead to abuse towards those staffing the centre and they will bear the brunt of residents’ frustrations.

Tom Howard, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenues and Benefits, described it as a dreadful policy.

“It means householders cannot tip their domestic DIY waste at some sites but they can at others,” he said.

“Being inconsistent is the worst thing of all and it means some will be turned away and have to drive 15 miles to another tip.”

Cllr Howard expects it to lead to increased fly-tipping and vowed to collect the evidence and present it to ECC for them to pay the costs.
TDC Leader Neil Stock added: “It’s the poor hard-working guys at the tip that couldn’t be more helpful who will be really getting it in the neck.”

Michael Talbot, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said he accepted that ECC was in the same position as everyone else in that it needed to save money.

“At many of the centres businesses have been dumping their rubbish when they should be taking it to a proper site for disposal and paying for it,” he added.

“Therefore they have brought in these blanket bans in an effort to put a stop to something which is difficult to control.”

Cllr Talbot told that there was a verbal agreement that ECC would pay the cost of clearing up an increase in fly-tipping if it occurred.